Thank You Erie Optimist Club

Thank you to the Optimist Club of Erie and the Town of Erie Public Works Department for making last Saturday's Eerie Erie 5K/10K and Goblin Run a BIG success!  Their partnership was especially important this year because of the flood damage on parts of the routes for the 5K and 10K races.

Erie's Public Works Department worked diligently, under a time press, to make sure the trails were safe for the event. Thank you so much!   Under a blue sky, this year's 31st Annual Eerie Erie it was made possible thanks to all the friendly and dedicated volunteers from the Optimist Club of Erie.

The Optimist Club's goal is to serve the youth of our community by sponsoring programs and events geared toward mental and physical development.  If you've participated in the event, then you know the costumes are hilarious and it's a fun time to see many friends from Erie and neighbors from towns nearby. If you haven't experienced the event yet, then please join us next year!  To learn more about the Optimist Club in Erie, please visit their website at http://erieoptimists.org/.

Take care,
Janice

Trail Connectivity and Tree Certificate Program

Dear Erie Neighbors,

Want to go for a bike ride, run or stroll? Now you can on over 25 miles of connected trails!

The newly completed section of the Coal Creek Regional Trail, which opened officially on Wednesday, adds 4 miles of multi-use trail that extends from the end point of Rock Creek Regional Trail near Majestic Drive in Lafayette to Erie’s Spine Trail near Vista Parkway. The entire Coal Creek and Rock Creek trail system has over 25 miles connecting the communities of Boulder, Superior, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie and Broomfield.  

Boulder County worked with the Town of Erie, City of Lafayette, the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to secure funding to complete the eastern most link of the Coal Creek/Rock Creek Regional Trail System. GOCO awarded a $500,000 grant through its special opportunities program which allows for larger grant awards for larger scale projects.

See photos of the Ribbon Cutting event by clicking here.

To view a map of the new trail segment north of State Highway 7, click here. 

Fall is a perfect time to plant trees.  If you are planning to add one or more in your yard, consider the Town of Erie's Tree Incentive Program to help with the cost.  To learn more about how to get a certificate, please click here.

Have a great start to the school year, and enjoy Autumn,

Janice

Golf Carts and IGAs

Dear Erie Neighbors,

Wow, that was a crazy storm we had Saturday night!  I hope you, your family, and property are safe.

I want to share information about IGAs and get your input on having golf carts on the trails and/or streets in Erie.

On the topic of IGAs (Intergovernmental Agreements), I support collaboration with our neighboring cities and counties.  I wrote a guest opinion to the Hometown Weekly newspaper. You can find it by clicking here.

There is talk about legalizing golf carts on the trails in Erie.  I am currently not in favor of mixing strollers, walkers, joggers, and cyclists with motorized vehicles, but would like to hear from you before I am required to make a decision.  Please let me know what you think below.


Take Care,
Janice



===== Update on 8/13/13 - Survey Results =====

Thank you for all the great feedback on golf carts on our trails and streets.  You can find the results and comments by clicking here.

A quick summary:

• 249 responses
• 80% do not want golf carts on the trails primarily for safety reasons
• 53% do not want golf carts on the streets

The comments are where you'll find more insight on why Erie residents feel the way they do. 

I did share the results with the other members of the Board of Trustees.

In the end no motion was made to consider golf carts on Erie's trail system.   A motion was made to consider golf carts on our streets with speed limits 35 mph or lower by Mayor Wilson and seconded by Trustee Grassi.   The motion failed 3-4.

Erie Recognized as One of the Top Places for Raise Kids

Great news! The Denver Business Journal ranked 4th in Colorado for best towns for young families. Read the article by clicking here.
Let's keep celebrating our community and its focus on families.

Take care,
Janice

Stop Trustees From Allowing Higher Property Taxes

Dear Erie Neighbors,

Do you support larger government and higher taxes to subsidize developers in Erie?   I think most will agree this is not a value our community supports. 

The Mayor is once again supporting development by saying the “free market” should allow developers to set up their own government entities, called Metro Districts, and to not have an explicit cap on the taxes these Districts charge.

A little history. If you live in Vista Pointe or an Erie development started before Vista Ridge you do not pay property taxes to a metro district.    Your property taxes are relatively low.

Vista Ridge was the first to have a metro district which basically reduced developer costs for infrastructure (streets, parks, amenities, water/sewer pipes, etc) and places that burden, through higher property taxes, on the new home buyer.    This was done to encourage development that would bring in big box commercial at Vista Ridge.  Unfortunately that has not materialized.   However, the Vista Ridge homeowners are paying higher property taxes to fund the building of Vista Ridge.

When Erie Commons came along, the Board understood the issue with higher taxes and created a law limiting what a metro district could charge.  That cap stands at 50 mils today - roughly what the school districts charge.   Both Erie Commons and (the new) FlatIron Meadows exist within this cap.

Now, fast forward to this week and before the Board on Tuesday is a proposed change to the law to remove the cap.    

Higher taxes to support development have long term negative consequences including:

1. lower home values as the banks have to figure in the higher taxes during qualification
2. tax fatigue so when Erie needs funding for a new police station or road improvements, those with high metro district taxes are less likely to support them
3. every dollar spent on higher property taxes is a dollar that can’t be spent in Erie businesses
4. the developers often put up the money for the district further profiting at the home owners expense
   

With over a 1000 approved buildable lots in Erie using the current metro district cap, there is no reason to give additional incentives to developers. 

This becomes another case of working for the developer, not the homeowners in Erie.  I think the existing cap of 50 mils should remain.

This coming Tuesday, April 23rd, this issue will be decided by the Trustees.  Also, on the agenda is the Daybreak (formally Bridgewater) metro district resolution and changes to the development quality being pushed through using an emergency procedure to circumventing the requirement for two meetings.  The timing of this is concerning to me.

If the majority of the BOT votes to lift the cap on the metro districts to allow the developer to name their number, then this developer, CDG, would be the first to benefit, and the future home buyers suffer.

This is the same development to receive $2.8 million of incentives for Erie Parkway and storm water drainage improvements.  By giving incentives to the developers, Erie taxpayers will not have it available to pay for projects to mitigate the results of increased traffic on the roads or make needed improvements. Please read my previous blog on this topic to learn more by clicking here.

If you don’t want Erie residents to further subsidize developers, please come to the BOT meeting on Tuesday and let your views be known.    Higher taxes for future residents hurt us all.

Take care,

Janice

Airport Master Plan Issues

Dear Erie Neighbors,

The topic of the Airport's future continues to buzz around town.  That buzz is sure to get louder as the contractor who is developing the new airport master plan brings the recommendations forward to the Board of Trustees.

The contractor has already been in hot water for developing and sharing the new plan with airport advocates before town staff or your elected officials could see it to ensure the interests of the majority of Erie residents are best served.  

At a minimum this has the appearance that the new master plan was developed outside of having the best interests of Erie overall in mind.

I can tell you as your elected official that I will have a hard time supporting any master plan that is in conflict with the  2009 Airport Economic Study which gave an understanding of the actual economic situation at the Erie airport.    The consulting company, Boyd International, did this report for Erie.  Based in Colorado, but recognized internationally as airport experts,  Michael Boyd is often on the news talking about aviation.  

I’m told there are at least two controversial elements in the report.  One is references to a potential extension of the main runway and a reactivation of the secondary runway.   Both of these go counter to the economic study and appear not to be in the best interest of Erie overall.

I’ll be asking these simple questions when the report comes to the Trustees for adoption:

1. How will expanding the main runway to provide larger jet service to Erie benefit the majority of homeowners in Erie?
2. How would increased noise and expanded frequency of larger planes maintain and increase Erie property values?
3. With the FAA saying they would not financially support reopening the closed secondary runway, how would we fund the reopening?
4. How would the perception of the expansion impact future development, both residential and retail?

What other question should I consider asking?   Please chime in below.

I would like to see the Airport become a successful, fully self sustained business in Erie, just not on the backs of Erie’s residents.

Take care,
Janice

Fracking Lectures at CU Boulder

Dear Erie Neighbors,

As oil and gas related topics continue to be at the top of many residents’ list, I want to share with you an upcoming series titled “"FrackingSENSE: What We Know, What We Don’t Know, and What We Hope to Learn about Natural Gas Development".  
 
Here is a short introduction to the information about the series:
The Center of the American West, CU Continuing Education, Boulder County, and the AirWaterGas Research Network invite you to a new lecture series. On Tuesday nights through May, a speaker with substantial expertise on natural gas development will provide a measured, honest exploration of this controversial topic. 

To learn more about it, please visit the link: www.centerwest.org

The lectures take place at CU Boulder.  

Take care,
Janice

Erie's Bond Rating Improves

Dear Erie Neighbors,
 
Good news! The Colorado general obligation (GO) bond rating has improved.

Here is what the report said:
Feb. 27, 2013--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its rating and underlying rating (SPUR) on Erie, Colo.'s general obligation bonds to 'AA+' from 'AA', with a stable outlook.

"The upgrade reflects the town's consistently very strong fund balances along with very strong wealth levels for this area," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Michael Stock.

The ratings reflect our assessment of the town's:
    -- Good management practices and policies
    -- Very strong incomes
    -- Somewhat concentrated sales tax base

The report goes on to say that the strong general fund balances is needed to help the town get through any potential tough economic times over the next two years.  Thanks to a rainy day fund established several years ago, the general fund balances looked good to the evaluators.  The current BOT must be incredibly conscientious about spending these funds. 

The strong wealth levels are thanks to the high median household income.  Way to go Erie residents!  

You can read more facts about The Town of Erie 2013 Community Profile on the town website at www.erieco.gov

Take care,
Janice

Erie Air Quality Report

Dear Erie Neighbors,
 
In July and August 2012, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) conducted an air sampling adjacent to natural gas well completion sites in Erie.  The report of their findings is available to us now.  Pinyon Environmental, an independent environmental analysis company has prepared a report to help explain these findings from CDPHE.

The summary of the report says the risk of Erie residents of experiencing an adverse health effect over a lifetime exposure to the CDPHE reported concentrations of the gases discussed in this report is low. This sampling does not compare air qualities to neighboring towns, such as Lafayette and Louisville.  Instead, it provides some specific data about the air around two gas well sites in Erie, one of which is near Red Hawk Elementary.

I am glad this study was done as it meets a goal of addressing the interests of the community to learn more about the air quality in Erie.  Although done over only a 2 month period, it specifically measured air at a breathable distances from the ground, which I find applicable and reassuring.

There will be an overview of the report provided by an analyst from Pinyon Environmental, at the next Board of Trustee meeting, Tuesday night, February 12, 2013.  The meeting begins at 6:30 pm, at Town Hall.  If you have a question, please email me and I will try to ask it during the brief Q &A, in which the board members can ask the presenter.  You are always welcome to ask questions, or make comments yourself during public comment, at the start of the meeting.  If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can watch it on Channel 8 or see it online at www.erieco.gov.

Take care,
Janice

Erie's Development Landscape has Changed

Dear Erie Neighbors,

At the last Board of Trustee meeting, Erie’s development landscape changed.  I am concerned we are no longer a town that prioritizes quality in the long term and errors on the side of health and safety.  For the first time in Erie’s modern history, housing development is no longer required to pay it’s own way.

I watched in amazement as the developers of Bridgewater (2700 Homes) and Summerfield (2200 Homes), Community Development Group (CDG), dazzled the majority of the Board. 

The Mayor led the way in two votes that forever will change Erie. 

First, Erie annexed Summerfield outside of our Unified Development Code (UDC) which was created to ensure high quality development.  This was done using a recently passed change which allows for developers to write their own standards.  We don't even know the complete details of what was changed from the UDC.  One thing we know for sure is that natural gas well setbacks were reduced by over 40% to 200 feet.

In the second vote, the majority approved developer incentives to the tune of $2.8 million and a deferral of another $1.2 million for sewer services.  The $2.8 million came in the reduction of transportation and drainage impact fees.  To put this into perspective, each new Bridgewater home in Phase I will be subsidized by over $3500.

Equally important, this reduces funds available to mitigate impacts of this development.  For example, Erie will not collect $800,000 that was in the original annexation agreement for transportation impacts.  So when Erie Parkway needs to be expanded to accommodate the increase in traffic caused by Bridgewater, there will be less money to do this and ultimately it will have to come from the taxpayers of Erie.

I first asked for an extension to make the Bridgewater decision since the information was only shared with some of the Trustees hours before our meeting.    When I could not get the majority of Trustees to agree, I spoke out against the resolution to provide financial incentives.  To me, the future of Erie and our finances spoke louder than to rush through an approval.

In defense of those who voted in favor of housing development incentives, I believe that they felt in their hearts Bridgewater is the answer to many of Erie’s long term economic challenges.  More people sooner means more consumers in Erie which would draw a second grocer and possibly other big boxes our way.   

I spoke out against the incentives not because I am against development, I’m not, but because I believe adding more housing supply at your expense will not increase housing demand.  

We already have over 1000 build-able lots in Erie today and have exceeded our budgeted number of new houses sold in Erie in the past year by 125%.   In the past, Erie did this without waiving the developers responsibility to pay for the impacts they bring to our community.
 
Current approved development can satiate any demand for the next 3-4 years.  Basic economics will say that more housing supply will reduce current housing values in the short term.

There is more to be said.  For now, know I will continue to work to ensure your tax dollars are not used to mitigate housing development impacts.  I want quality, fiscal responsibility, and safety to be high priority considerations for Erie.

Take care,
Janice

Watch the meeting by clicking here.
Find the Bridgewater incentive agreement by clicking here.